I am so honored to be a stop on the blog tour for Courtney and Kate's new book, Vintage Modern Knits. Ironcially, due to my huge west coast move I have been going through my knit library deciding what to keep and what to give away. It seems that over the years I went a little bit . . oh I dunno. . . obsessive overboard on my knitting book purchases.  

When I was a new knitter I pretty much bought whatever knit book caught my eye without taking into consideration whether it was really useful.  Books that had maybe one pattern that tickled my fancy made their way in to my shopping cart.  I was pretty impulsive. Granted, this was before the e-pattern phenomenon.  So now in this age of Ravelry's abundant database of single patterns, I find myself asking why I would need to buy another knit book again?

Vintage Modern Knits answers that question with a resounding yes!! Courtney and Kate, aside from being supremely awesome people, have designed 20 gorgeous patterns that are full of WIN.  I immedately fell in love with the Brigid Cardigan. 

And of course the very wearable Yangtze Cardigan.

In addition to their patterns VMK contains rich history and in depth explanations on techniques that are common to many knitters (see: knitting without a cable needle) as well as ones that even a veteran knitter might not be familiar with. (see: Roositude)  This book is truly worth it's weight in qivuit.

Thoughtfulness and care of detail in both the collection of patterns and instruction really comes through. I was not suprised by this since I have experienced their knowledge first hand. At the Mertiursas workshop at Patricia's Yarns I was amazed at the depth of Courtney and Kate's critical knowledge about knitting. Each time they demonstrated the motion of a particular technique they also shared the "why" behind it.   

I also happen to love Fibre Co. yarns.

I casted on for the Bramble Beret in hopes to have it finished in time for this post but with ALL else that is going on I am only just past the ribbing.  It will probably become my first Cali FO post! 

Congrats Courtney & Kate on such a fabulous book! You girls continue to rock my knitted socks off.

Run, don't walk, to your nearest LYS to pick up a copy or pop over to the other Blog Tour stops to see if you can win yourself a copy!

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2/5                        Ready, Set, Knit podcast (WEBs) http://readysetknit.yarn.com/ 

2/7                        Knitting Daily http://www.knittingdaily.com 

2/8                        Knit and Tonic http://www.knitandtonic.net/ 

2/9                        Winged Knits http://cecilyam.wordpress.com/ 

2/10                      Narrating Life http://mirandawalker.blogspot.com/ 

2/11                      Knitbot http://knitbot.com/

2/14                      Knitting School Drop Out http://www.knittingschooldropout.com/

2/15                      Never Not Knitting podcast/ interview, giveaway http://nevernotknitting.blogspot.com/

2/16                      Knitgrrl http://www.knitgrrl.com/

2/17                      Sunset Cat Designs http://www.sunsetcat.com/

2/18                      Neoknits http://www.neoknits.com/blog/

2/21                      Tenten Knits http://margauxelena.typepad.com/

2/22                      Lolly Knitting Around http://lollygirl.com/blog/